title: Chronic exposure of Rutilus rutilus caspicus fingerlings to ambient copper: Effects on food intake, growth performance, biochemistry and stress resistance.
abstract: An 8-week trial was conducted to investigate the effect of ambient copper (Cu) on growth performance, physiological characteristics and stress resistance of Caspian roach, Rutilus rutilus caspicus. Fish were exposed to 0 (control), 0.02, 0.04 and 0.06 ppm Cu, and their food intake and growth performance were fortnightly recorded. Also, serum cortisol, glucose, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and sodium (Na) levels were determined after 2 and 8 weeks exposure to ambient Cu. At the end of trial, serum total protein, albumin, globulin and albumin-globulin ratio (A:G) levels, whole body proximate composition and stress tolerance of the fish were measured. Results showed that Cu exposure resulted in a significant suppression in food intake after 2 weeks, which was eliminated after 4 weeks in 0.02 ppm groups and after 6 weeks in 0.04 and 0.06 ppm groups. Cu exposure brought about an inferior growth that recovered in line with the experiment progression, following a dose-dependent manner. Cu-exposed fish showed a dose-dependent increase in serum cortisol, glucose and ALT as well as decrease in serum Na, after 2 weeks. These parameters showed a full recovery in 0.02 ppm group and a partial recovery in 0.04 and 0.06 ppm groups, at the 8th week. Significant suppression in serum total protein, albumin, globulin and A:G levels and whole body dry matter, lipid and protein levels as well as stress resistance was observed in 0.04 and 0.06 ppm groups. It is concluded that Cu exposure could adversely affect growth performance, physiological characteristics and stress resistance of Caspian roach, which might affect its ecological features.
authors.affiliation: Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Fisheries and Environment, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran seyyedmorteza.hoseini@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Seyyed Morteza
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hoseini
authors.affiliation: Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Fisheries and Environment, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rajabiesterabadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Fisheries, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kordrostami
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001066:Appetite / Q000187:drug effects; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003300:Copper / Q000633:toxicity*; D003530:Cyprinidae / Q000254:growth & development*; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D012712:Serum Globulins / Q000378:metabolism; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D012709:Serum Albumin; D012712:Serum Globulins; D003300:Copper; D012964:Sodium; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Caspian roach; Heavy metal; immunity; physiology; toxicity